Re: campfire tale

They had no luck at the stream so Todd warmed two cans of chili over the fire. They sat at dusk around a fire built more for comfort and camping ritual then warmth. Both enjoying their chili with some cheap canned beer Bryanâ€™s brother had got them. as they ate they mused about the dinner tasting better than any before, as it tends to after a long day in the woods.

They had conversations about the big upcoming year, their plans for the summer, and of course girls. All very light hearted with lots of joking until they got to talking about John Clair. John had gone to the same School but was six years ahead of the boys. Like them he loved the mountain and spent most of his time on it. The boys didnâ€™t know him personally but knew of him because unfortunately for John he had become part of the Blue Light mine folk lore.

It was just a couple years back during their ninth grade year. John had gone missing, everyone figured he just got lost on a day hike but after he didnâ€™t turn up they did a huge search. A ranger found his body floating in part of the mine thatâ€™s flooded. It was all that was in the local papers or on peoples tongues that summer. Although the official report was he tried to explore the flooded area got disorientated in the darkness and drowned, other ideas abound.

That night Todd slept in his tent and Bryan chose to sleep in his bag under the stars as he often did. Sometime late in the night Bryan was awoken by a tap on his shoulder. He knew it was late and jumped up to see what Todd needed. Todd wasnâ€™t there he was asleep in his tent. Bryan heard a whisper. He turned and saw in the moonlight sitting on a log across from him, the silhouette of a large man. At first Bryan thought his eyes were playing tricks but as he got closer he realized they werenâ€™t. When He moved a little closer still, he recognized the face. He had seen it a million times on the front of newspapers during that now distant summer: it was John. John looked very serious and was shaking his head as to say no to somthing. Bryan didnâ€™t feel scared but a profound sense of sadness.

"Hey, wake up dude." Todd says while nudging Bryan with his foot. Bryan sits up groggy. "I had a crazy dream." " Must have been, you were mumbling in you sleep like you were talking to someone. Lets get packed up its a long hike." Todd replies.

Re: campfire tale

They got packed up and stashed anything unnecessary to pick up on the way back. The hike was very sunny and scenic. The mine wasnâ€™t on any map; Todd had done thorough research but was still a little leery if they would find it. Mid afternoon Todd spotted a rocky outcropping, as they got closer Bryan made out an opening and ran to it. Bryan stood to the side of the entrance and yelled "this is it!" like an excited kid. The opening was large but both would have to crawl to enter.

Todd didnâ€™t rush but was just as excited and smiling as he walked to Bryanâ€™s side. Bryan thought it look more like a natural cave then something man made. "Letâ€™s do this." Bryan said ecstatically. They unpacked a video camera, headlamps, and a coil of rope. Neither of the boys had done anything like this and both were a bit nervous. "Ok you first" Todd said feeling a bit uneasy. Bryan not one to hesitate got down on all fours and crawled in. Todd followed right behind. Once out of the light the opening widened until they found themselves standing. Even though he was back up on two feet Todd could feel claustrophobia sinking in. "holy shit! how far you think it goes?" Bryan said while shining his light down the darkness filled path ahead of them.

Re: campfire tale

The cave was dank and dark... Bryan had to fight a feeeling of clausterphobia and dread.. But not wanting to look like a total loser in front of his friend , he went on behind Todd.. The Cave went from being able to stand upright to crouching position. Soon they were crawling. Bryan noticed signs of teenagers perhaps partying a long time ago. Old beer cans and candles.. then soon nothing more. He guessed they never went further back.. Todd kept calling back to him to keep up . Soon he heard Todd call out that he should be careful. There was a ledge up ahead. Then he heard nothing...except the faint sound of water dripping.. He aimed his flashlight in Todd's direction. All he saw was blackness staring back at him...

Re: campfire tale

Bryan walked to the ledge calling to Todd, although only his echo returned. Shining his lamp, he could see a vast chamber. The floor was a few feet below and damp, becoming submerged towards what seemed like the only other passage out. Bryan jumped down to the damp floor. As soon as he did, Toddâ€™s voice penetrated the entire room, "No!" Bryan yells back, "Todd!" He scans the room; hears no response but his heart almost stopping when he sees the path he just came through is gone. Above the ledge was only a wall of solid rock.

Re: campfire tale

He dropped his flashlight. The dark was inky and the sound of the water dripping seemed louder he felt his way around. stumbled on a few rocks.. "Todd !!! .. Todd !! " he shouted. only dark silence .. The cave was clammy and he shivered. He needed to find that flashlight.. He went as far as he could in complete darkness,feeling his way..inch by inch remembering the ledge and hoping there were no others he hadnt had time to notice..He stumbled on something, It was his pack .. He unzipped it and snapped a glow stick.. The cave was illuminated by an eerie green glow.. He could see that the entrance was completely blocked. He made his way to it.. "TODD !! " he yelled.. then he heard a rasping low moaning sound... coming from the other side... or was it to his left ?? was the sound coming from within the cave ?? he wasnt sure..

Re: campfire tale

It was a black tar like substance which landed on his shirt and pulled at it, Bryan pulled back. Realizing it wasnâ€™t letting go he took his shirt off, it instantly flew off into the darkness. He backed away towards the water. In the glow he could see the tar seeping out of the stone amassing on the walls and floor and moving towards him. With nowhere else to go he backs into the water. At calf high the tar has made it to the waterâ€™s edge and stops. Bryan takes another step back and slips and falls into the deep black water behind him.

Underwater he sees the stone is covered with a slimy pink agley giving it the look of flesh. To his disbelief and fear a crack opens up below him and sucks him through. As heâ€™s pulled through the submerged tunnel he grasps at the walls. The tunnel walls are too slick to grab, the pink substance comes of under his nails. Just as he canâ€™t hold his breath any longer he comes out an opening falling through air into another pool. He swims to the top and sees no walls in the light of the glow stick. Thereâ€™s something wrong with the air he finds it hard to breath. Thereâ€™s also something wrong with the water, his skin and eyes begin to burn. He feels something bump him, panicked Bryan dogpaddles back and turns. The burning horrible now especially in his eyes but before he loses his sight he is able to see what bumped him; the partially digested body of Todd.

Re: campfire tale

"Noooooooo !" Bryan screams through gulpfuls of foul tasting water.. He splashes and paddles away from the body... As the flesh burns away from his skin he suddenly realizes where he is... and hears the huge heartbeat .......

Re: campfire tale

I'll go..

Jenny rubbed her eyes as she rode the 28 Bus downtown.. She had a long hard day at the office today. She had gotten off work at 6pm and two bus transfers later she was arriving at her neighborhood at 7:30. She was beat. Just then the bus stopped to pick up an elderly woman.. It seemed to take awfully long. She wondered impatiently what the hold up was. It seemed the bus driver was having a hard time getting the bus started. She groaned. Her day was getting worse.. "Great" she muttered under her breath, she looked out the window and decided she would get off and walk . It was only 4 blocks to her apartment. She left the bus and the icy cold wind seemed to slap her in the face. She grabbed her thin coat together and walked quickly. It had already gotten dark. She looked ahead and saw she had to pass two blocks worth of abandoned buildings. She shuddered. It wasn't so bad in the day. but at night ?She quickly walked and kept her gaze ahead. but always alert to her surroundings. There were some homeless people who sometimes frequented these buildings. She wished she had a better paying job so she could move. Just then she thought she heard footsteps behind her. She walked faster. Stole a glane behind her.. nothing. She heard another step. It sounds like glass crunching. She assumed it must be someone inside the building. The building was very old and falling apart. The windows were all without glass and stared at her like dark eyes. She heard a wheezing sound. She hurried along. She didnt like being alone on this street ..The bus rode past her.. She cursed herself for not waiting on the bus

Re: campfire tale

Re: campfire tale

Jenny watched the taillights of the bus. Glowing red in the darkness. Seeming to mock her bad judgement.. She exhaled and kept trudging along.. She heard scuttling to her right ..Inside the building. There was someone there.She could feel them... Watching her.. Shaking her head and scolding herself for being so stupid. She kept on.. she thought she saw someone standing in one of the alleys she passed. A homeless man. wearing a hat and tattered clothing. but he was standing strangely..at an odd angle. Maybe he was the one she had seen the week before. He had approached her for change and she had seen he was missing a leg.. she remembered she had ignored him and walked past him... was he following her ?

Re: campfire tale

Jenny was looking back at the alley , making sure the man wasn't following her when she tripped over something. It was a man's leg. A homeless man laying on the sidewalk hidden by newpapers. A haggard toothless face emerged from underneath the papers. Equally alarmed as she was...Jenny screamed and instantly felt ashamed. . "are you okay missy ? " Jenny mumbled yes and got up.. " got any spare change ?" he held out a dirty hand.. Jenny , too ashamed to say no , reached into her pocket . Thats when she noticed his hand.. He had six fingers. She tried not to stare and averted her eyes downward as she fished the coins from her pants pocket. . Her eyes widened in horror as she saw what looked like a flesh colored tail curl up underneath his leg. She dropped the coins down and ran...

Re: campfire tale

Jenny felt very uneasy. she just wanted to get away from that strange man, what was that thing she saw under his leg ? She tried to reason with herself. It must have been a cat or something with him.. So lost in thought and shaken by the experience, she realized she missed her street a block ago. She turned around to head back. some how the street seemed darker.. the lamposts seemed different and the building looked unfamiliar. .

Re: campfire tale

Out of the corners of her eyes dark shapes seem to be moving, yet when she looked, nothing was amiss. As she started back to her turn, the lamps briefly fluttered as if a storm was approaching. A slight wind brought a strange smell with it, cloying yet... off. A distant memory poked at her, but she couldn't quite grab at it. As she reached the end of the block and turned, the street was completely silent. No sounds of cars or insects. Utter silence. As she walked her heels clicked underneath her. Was that just an echo of her heels, or someone else's she is hearing? Looking around, she sees nothing, but still there is a feeling of being watched.

Re: campfire tale

She thinks she hears a child crying in the distance.... and as she passes the next building she sees a figure huddled in a boarded up doorway. Sititng among trash and broken bottles. A woman holding what seems to be a baby.. The woman looks up at hear with eyes that haunt her.. and an almost skeletal face.. She pulls the baby's dirty blanket away from it's face.. "Its dead... " she says blandly . .. Jenny backs away and runs towards the direction of her apartment.. She can hear the lady laughing now and Jenny begans sobbing as she runs.. Finally she reaches her apartment building. She can see it up ahead now..

Re: campfire tale

As she fumbles for her keys she looks backwards and sees the dead baby is running after her! The rotting flesh is flapping and ripping off at every step. Jenny almost trips on the steps as her brain tries to comprehend that horrifying image. As she shakingly tries to put the key into the lock, she hears a sad wail of "Mooommmmmeeyyyyy".

Jenny finally gets the lock open, steps in and slams the door shut just as something hits the door. She runs up the steps without even looking.

Re: campfire tale

twisted minds think alike

She gets to the 2nd flight of stairs and looks down ... she can her scratching at the front door and a low whimpering.. she turns and runs up the night flight of stairs. She bumps into an old man.. He is weraing a tattered suit and has weeping boils on his face... " I think someone wants in downstairs .. " he says . Jenny can smell his foul breath. The stench of rotting meat fills the air as she pushes past him and gets to her floor. She runs to her door , lets herself in and bolts the door.. She can hear shuffling out in the hall.. It stops near her door. She sobs , covering her mouth . She decides to look through the peep hole..

Re: campfire tale

And sees the man's now-skeletal head looking back. Oddly, the eyes are still intact. His jaws move, but of course no sound comes out. Jenny turns away from the door just as the phone rings. "No way should I answer that" she thinks to herself. She's seen too many horror movies. Except she forgot to turn off the answering machine....